Florida struggling to keep pace with MMJ patient registrations

Florida’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use is dealing with a major patient backlog which some stakeholders say is forcing patients to wait longer than the mandated 30 days to receive their MMJ cards.

According to broadcaster WEAR-TV and the Miami Herald, the state health department is being “flooded” with MMJ registration applications, up to 3,000 pending at any given time, with staffers receiving about 1,300 calls a day from prospective patients.

One physician who’s recommending MMJ for patients estimated that the wait time is up to about seven weeks instead of 30 days, WEAR TV reported.

While the wait for patients may be excruciating, it’s a great sign for the future of the Florida cannabis industry, which is expected to hit $20 million-$40 million in dispensary sales this year, according to the Marijuana Business Factbook 2017.